MM News

LAHORE: Politicians, former and current cricketers have lauded Pakistan’s under-19 cricket squad on their performance that lead to a two-wicket victory against India in the group stage of the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) Asia Cup.

Pakistan’s young stars Muhammad Shehzad and Zeeshan Zameer’s heroics led their team to victory against arch rivals India in the group stage of the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) Asia Cup.

Taking to Twitter, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja lauded the Pakistan side for playing “a tremendous game”. “Congrats young guns; Played a tremendous game and held your nerve to beat India,” he wrote on Twitter.

#pakvIndAsiaCupUnder19 Congrats young guns. Played a tremendous game and held your nerve to beat India.#PakistanZindabad

— Ramiz Raja (@iramizraja) December 25, 2021

Meanwhile, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam advised the young cricketers to keep up their performance and continue to make the nation proud.

Well done boys, keep performing like this and continue to make all of us proud. Praying for your more successes in cricket.???????? https://t.co/fKMeRsb3Q4

— Babar Azam (@babarazam258) December 25, 2021

In a Tweet, the skipper also prayed for greater successes of Pakistan’s under-19 team players in their cricket careers. “Well done boys, keep performing like this and continue to make all of us proud. Praying for your more successes in cricket,” Azam wrote.

Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul also offered her congratulations to the Pakistani team for defeating India in the U19 Asia Cup.

The minister made a special mention of Muhammed Shehzad, who won the Man of the Match award. “Muhammed Shehzad, who belongs to Dera Ghazi Khan, showcased the best game – an opportunity for the Dera people to take pride in,” wrote Gul.

National Team vice-captain Shadab Khan, in a Tweet, said, “Future of Pakistan cricket is in safe hands indeed. Well done to the under 19 team on a thrilling victory vs India. Keep working hard, keep showing your class.”

Future of Pakistan cricket is in safe hands indeed. Well done to the under 19 team on a thrilling victory vs India. Keep working hard, keep showing your class. #PakistanZindabad pic.twitter.com/uDbon2tBSt

— Shadab Khan (@76Shadabkhan) December 25, 2021

“Good job boys, back to back victories in any tournament is always a confidence booster. Best of luck for the upcoming matches, praying for your success,” Pakistani pacer Wahab Riaz wrote on Twitter.

Good job boys, back to back victories in any tournament is always a confidence booster. Best of luck for the upcoming matches, praying for your success IA????????????#U19AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/6Uw8iddeZn

— Wahab Riaz (@WahabViki) December 25, 2021

Other cricketers also lauded the Pakistan under-19 squad for the thriller performance in the Asia Cup.

Mubarak to the entire Pakistan U19 squad on securing yet another victory in the #U19AsiaCup. Well done on the brilliant display of all-round cricket in the #PAKvIND today. ????????#PakistanZindabad ????????

— Imad Wasim (@simadwasim) December 25, 2021

The match

The Men in Blue were restricted to 237 in the 50-over match at the ICC Academy Ground on Saturday. Batting first, India gave Pakistan a 238-run target. Aaradhya Yadav smashed 50 runs off 83 balls and Harnoor Singh hit 46 runs, while Rajvardhan Hangargekar added 33 runs to the scoreboard.

Pakistani bowlers rose to the occasion, as Zameer took an amazing five-wicket haul in 10 overs, followed by Awais Ali, who picked up two scalps, while Maaz Sadaqat and Akram were able to take a wicket each.

When put to bat, Pakistan’s Shehzad performed exceptionally well, hitting 82 runs off 105 balls, including four 4s and five 6s. Irfan Khan hit 33 runs off 50 balls before he was sent back to the pavilion.

The Indian bowlers kept the Pakistani batters under pressure, but it was not enough, as the Men In Green reached the target in 50 overs. Raj Bawa took four wickets, while Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravi Kumar, and Nishant Sindhu picked up a scalp each.